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God, I am not ashamed of the Gospel. I want to live for You and share Your goodness with the world. Help me to be bold in my faith, to love others well, and to live a life that honors You. Guide me as I point others to Your love! in Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING: ISAIAH 43-44 1 THESSALONIANS 2 PAUL'S MINISTRY TO THE THESSALONIANS we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. PAUL'S LONGING TO SEE THEM AGAIN For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.

ECCLESIASTES 4:8-10 EVIL UNDER THE SUN though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. INSIGHT The book of Ecclesiastes—written from the perspective of “under the sun” (1:14) or the human experience on earth—seems to be one long lament. What’s it all about? Does anything ultimately matter? Why even try? That forlorn theme continues here, as the writer (called “the Teacher” in 1:1) observes “a man all alone” (4:8). Eventually this solitary figure asks himself, “For whom am I toiling?” The Teacher observes, “This too is meaningless—a miserable business!” (v. 8). Yet Ecclesiastes also recognizes that there is a life worth living. The wise man declares, “Two are better than one” (v. 9) and points to a specific reason why doing life together is preferred: “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (v. 10). God lovingly equips us to help each other and in turn to accept help. Our necessary interdependence reminds us of our complete reliance on God and His goodness. By: Tim Gustafson

IT TAKES TWO Climbing Jamaica’s Dunn’s River Falls is an exhilarating experience. Water cascades over the smooth rocks of the falls on its way to the Caribbean. It’s a challenge as climbers battle the water’s flow to make their way to the top. For a teenager named JW, it’s a near impossibility. He’s sight-impaired, with only a pinhole view of the world.

But JW was determined to climb, and his friend Josiah was willing to team up with him. Josiah was JW’s eyes—telling him which slippery rocks to avoid and where to put his hands and feet. And JW was Josiah’s heart—showing him what courage looks like.

So much of life is like that daunting climb: We shouldn’t walk alone. King Solomon points us to that truth. “Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 nlt). Both Josiah and JW were attempting something special—and they could do it only in tandem. The passage continues: “If either [person] falls down, one can help the other up” (v. 10). But neither fell and neither failed. Together, they reached their goals.

God’s design for people, presented clearly by Solomon and demonstrated vividly by these two teenagers, is that we work together. The tasks God calls us to do are best done with others—each using what skills and emotions God has given to bring an outcome that points to Him.

By: Dave Branon

REFLECT AND PRAY Why is it important to serve with others? How does it feel when you team up to point people to God?

Dear God, please help me team up with You and others to accomplish Your mission on earth. in Jesus name, Amen.

BELIEVING FOR A MOVE OF GOD SERVE RELENTLESSLY REFLECTION We are struck by the relentlessness of Paul, how this great apostle kept going. The word we associate with Paul is servant, he served the Church, and he served his Savior. He was a beautiful servant of the gospel. His life’s mission was to testify to the good news of God’s grace.

As we think about gathering together as His Church, we want to testify to the good news of God’s grace and to proclaim his mercy, love and kindness to this broken world. We know that this message will only truly be proclaimed by servants.

PRAYER We commit to serve you today, Lord, to testify to the good news of your grace today. Father, we thank you that you have been gracious towards us. We want to serve you by inviting others to hear your message of grace this year, as we gather. in Jesus' name, Amen.